Petition Letter
Dr. Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Queens University
Kingston, Ontario
May 29, 2023
Dear Dr. Stephenson:
I am petitioning the Faculty??s decision that I must withdraw from Queens University for one year.
This spring I experienced a severe mental health condition that made it impossible for me to focus on my studies. The condition made it difficult for me to read and comprehend the material I was trying to study and made writing exams impossible. It came on suddenly, soon after I completed my work for DEVS 100 in the week before Easter, around April 6, 2023. I was incapacitated by it, and none of my attempts to mitigate my symptoms worked. I contacted my family doctor at home who saw me virtually and then in person once I returned home. I was treated with medication and referred for counseling. The effects and symptoms of my acute mental health event continued for several weeks making it impossible for me to write my exams. With the assistance of my parents, I wrote to the Faculty of Arts and Sciences office for academic considerations and asked to defer my exams. I provided a letter from my doctor and was granted a deferral for my final exams in political science, psychology, and sociology. I am planning to write the exams on August 1, 14, and 31 and have been in contact with my professors to change my grades to ??incomplete? in the meantime.
I think that my academic performance in my second year at Queens (if I am permitted to return) will be much better than in my first year. I am aware that in this type of letter that I am not required to describe my specific conditions, but I do think it will be helpful to provide a few specifics so that my situation can be better understood. In my last year of high school I was diagnosed with ADHD and treated with medication. The medication helped me so much with my success in school that year and certainly helped me achieve the grades I needed to get an offer of admission to Queens. Once I moved into residence and began my university studies I began to struggle with anxiety. My family doctor suggested that I stop taking my medication for ADHD as it can make anxiety worse. I did begin to feel better and continued to study but it was much harder to complete my work and my grades suffered. Then in April I had an acute mental health event and could not work at all. Since then, I have been effectively treated for that condition and am now able to take my ADHD medication again. I have enrolled in a summer course in Indigenous Studies and am finally able to enjoy studying again with a renewed ability to focus and absorb the information. The fact that I am effectively treated now for both conditions makes me confident that I will be much more successful in my second year.
Apart from my health struggles I really enjoy being at Queens University. I am hoping to major in Global Development Studies and particularly look forward to the courses that relate to environmental studies and indigenous studies. I look forward to finding out the role I might play as a Canadian worldwide tackling issues in these subject areas and working towards improving the quality of life for others.
Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,
John Pillitteri (20333535)
Associate Dean (Studies)
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Queens University
Kingston, Ontario
May 29, 2023
Dear Dr. Stephenson:
I am petitioning the Faculty??s decision that I must withdraw from Queens University for one year.
This spring I experienced a severe mental health condition that made it impossible for me to focus on my studies. The condition made it difficult for me to read and comprehend the material I was trying to study and made writing exams impossible. It came on suddenly, soon after I completed my work for DEVS 100 in the week before Easter, around April 6, 2023. I was incapacitated by it, and none of my attempts to mitigate my symptoms worked. I contacted my family doctor at home who saw me virtually and then in person once I returned home. I was treated with medication and referred for counseling. The effects and symptoms of my acute mental health event continued for several weeks making it impossible for me to write my exams. With the assistance of my parents, I wrote to the Faculty of Arts and Sciences office for academic considerations and asked to defer my exams. I provided a letter from my doctor and was granted a deferral for my final exams in political science, psychology, and sociology. I am planning to write the exams on August 1, 14, and 31 and have been in contact with my professors to change my grades to ??incomplete? in the meantime.
I think that my academic performance in my second year at Queens (if I am permitted to return) will be much better than in my first year. I am aware that in this type of letter that I am not required to describe my specific conditions, but I do think it will be helpful to provide a few specifics so that my situation can be better understood. In my last year of high school I was diagnosed with ADHD and treated with medication. The medication helped me so much with my success in school that year and certainly helped me achieve the grades I needed to get an offer of admission to Queens. Once I moved into residence and began my university studies I began to struggle with anxiety. My family doctor suggested that I stop taking my medication for ADHD as it can make anxiety worse. I did begin to feel better and continued to study but it was much harder to complete my work and my grades suffered. Then in April I had an acute mental health event and could not work at all. Since then, I have been effectively treated for that condition and am now able to take my ADHD medication again. I have enrolled in a summer course in Indigenous Studies and am finally able to enjoy studying again with a renewed ability to focus and absorb the information. The fact that I am effectively treated now for both conditions makes me confident that I will be much more successful in my second year.
Apart from my health struggles I really enjoy being at Queens University. I am hoping to major in Global Development Studies and particularly look forward to the courses that relate to environmental studies and indigenous studies. I look forward to finding out the role I might play as a Canadian worldwide tackling issues in these subject areas and working towards improving the quality of life for others.
Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,
John Pillitteri (20333535)